Details are emerging on circumstances that led to the deaths of several people whose remains were found last week in the North Complex fire outside Oroville.
Butte County Sheriff and Coroner Kory Honea said DNA testing is being used to positively identify fire victims after they're found. As of Monday night, the death toll had risen to 15.
At a Monday night briefing, Honea described fiery situations at two locations where residents perished.
RELATED: How people misbehaving contributed to wildfire chaos in California, Oregon
Family members of elderly Berry Creek residents John and Sandra Butler called the sheriff's office last Wednesday to say they had not heard from the couple, Honea said. The couple told their family they would get in a pond if the fire got close.
"The family members had spoken to the Butlers during the fire," the sheriff said. "The Butlers told the family members they were going to seek refuge from the fire at a pond near their residence."
Searchers later found the bodies of John Butler, 79, and Sandra Butler, 75, Honea said. Detectives obtained the Butlers' phone records and determined their last known location was near their residence, the sheriff said.
MORE: Death toll in Southern Oregon fire goes down
"My sincerest condolences go out to the Butler family," he said.
Also last Wednesday, Honea said the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection reported two deaths in the area of Graystone Lane, also in Berry Creek.
The two people are believed to have lived in a nearby home, which was destroyed by fire.
One victim, 68-year-old Philip Rubel, was found inside a burned-up Toyota pickup, Honea said.
RELATED: Trump blames California, but here's how much federal land fires have burned this summer
A second vehicle was found resting against a boulder not far from the pickup. The second victim, 77-year-old Millicent Catarancuic, was discovered down an embankment.
The two apparently were prepared to evacuate but didn't because of misinformation about the wind-driven blaze.
"After speaking with family members, it is believed the decedents were aware of the fire in their area. They had packed their belongings in preparation to evacuate but later decided not to evacuate based on errorneous information that the fire was 51% contained," Honea said.
RELATED: What we know Tuesday about wildfires in the North State: Death toll at 15 in North Complex; two schools destroyed
The Butte County Sheriff's Office said of the 15 fatalities reported as of Monday night, these three others have been positively identified and their next-of-kin have been notified.
- Josiah Williams, 16, of Berry Creek
- Khawar Bhatti, 58, of Berry Creek
- Jorge Hernandez-Juarez, 26, of Berry Creek
Mike Chapman is a reporter and photographer for the Record Searchlight in Redding, Calif. His newspaper career spans Yreka and Eureka in Northern California and Bellingham, Wash. Follow him on Twitter @mikechapman_RS. Subscribe today!
tinyurlis.gdu.nuclck.ruulvis.netshrtco.de
مقالات مشابه
- Coronavirus زندگی می کنند به روز رسانی: آنچه شما نیاز به دانستن جمعه در مورد COVID-19 در شمال کشور
- Coronavirus زندگی می کنند به روز رسانی: دکتر Fauci اروپا و آمریکا نیازی درد و رنج و مرگ'; خواهد همه گیر ادعا عمده ما هواپیمایی?
- Thinking about a hike? Think again as wildfires keep California's National Forests closed
- شرکت صادرات و واردات کالاهای مختلف از جمله کاشی و سرامیک و ارائه دهنده خدمات ترانزیت و بارگیری دریایی و ریلی و ترخیص کالا برای کشورهای مختلف از جمله روسیه و کشورهای حوزه cis و سایر نقاط جهان - بازرگانی علی قانعی
- پورت سنت لوسی خانه سلامت, مدیر عامل, بازداشت متهم به پزشکی تقلب توسط مقامات دولتی
- 5 داستان ها و پیش بینی ها: آنچه شما از دست رفته دیدن در سال 2020 از بالا شمال کشور ورزشکاران
- فلوریدا بازگشایی: Sailfish چلپ چلوپ Waterpark آماده برای باز کردن جمعه در 50 درصد ظرفیت
- شرکت صادرات و واردات کالاهای مختلف از جمله کاشی و سرامیک و ارائه دهنده خدمات ترانزیت و بارگیری دریایی و ریلی و ترخیص کالا برای کشورهای مختلف از جمله روسیه و کشورهای حوزه cis و سایر نقاط جهان - بازرگانی علی قانعی
- امشب: سازمان دیده بان داستان در مورد خاطرات دوران کودکی و کودکان
- پس از بیش از حد بسیاری از بد پلیس ویدئوها, این یکی از نشان های مختلف زندگی و مرگ وضعیت | نظر